Page 49 of This Memory
I giggled as Gavin helped me get my panties and leggings back on. “What should we tell them downstairs? We’ve been up here for a while.”
He shrugged. “The truth. That we talked, and we’re going to give this relationship a go.”
“Are we really going to do this?”
“I want this to be more than a sexual arrangement, Bry. I want to be here for you during the pregnancy. I know you’ve got Evelyn and Denny, but you deserve someone just foryou.”
Smiling, I placed a hand on his massive chest. I desperately wanted to see what it looked like without the shirt on. “I’ve got girlfriends who are there for me.”
He stared at me for a moment, then nodded…and I could see the look of disappointment in his eyes. This was important to him.
“But, sometimes, I could use someone else to talk to. Someone to hold me, and for me to hold them. And to make me see stars when I orgasm.”
Gavin grinned. “I volunteer as tribute.”
A soft laugh slipped free before I sobered. “I know I don’t have a right to ask this. Will you be dating anyone?”
A look of surprise crossed over his face. “No! Will you?”
“God, no. I want this to be exclusive.”
“Good, I want that as well.”
I blinked a few times and slowly shook my head. “We should take things slow. I mean, we went from enemies to frenemies to…lovers in a hot second.”
“But how fun has it been?” He waggled his brows, and I slapped his chest, ignoring how solid it was under my hand.
“We better get back down there. I’m sure trick-or-treating is nearly over.”
Gavin motioned for me to go first. After locking the apartment door, we made our way down the steps, throughthe back of the toy store and to the front, where Evelyn was still passing out candy.
“Sorry that took so long,” I said, hoping I sounded normal. “I got a bit sick.”
Evelyn straightened so fast, she nearly knocked over the little girl who was reaching into the bowl for candy. “You got sick? Like you threw up?”
“Oh man, gross! The toy store lady is sick!” a random little boy cried out.
His mother came rushing over. “You’re sick and handing out candy to kids? Brystol, are you crazy?”
I held up my hands. “I’m notsick-sick. It’s not what you think.”
“Is it the morning sickness kicking in?” Evelyn asked.
Suddenly all eyes were on me as I attempted to smile. Clearly, Evelyn hadn’t noticed. She’d just announced to all the people in the toy store that I was pregnant.
“I’m fine, Eve; just let it go, okay?”
Suddenly, she realized what she did and turned back to the kids. “We’re almost out of candy! Grab one piece and leave some for those behind you.”
As the mothers bounced their eyes between me and Gavin, I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.
Gavin leaned in and whispered, “Please tell me they’re not all thinking what Ithinkthey’re thinking.”
“Oh, they’re thinking it. Congratulations, Officer Quinn—you’re about to be a fictional dad.”
Gavin whispered, “Fuuuck.”
Gavin
